Space heater casing for receiving combustion products



y ,1951 D. OLDS EIAL 2,550,854

SPACE HEATER CASING FOR RECEIVING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS Filed April 8, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

M y 195.1 D. OLDS EIAL v 2,550,854

SPACE HEATER CASING FOR RECEIVINGCOMBUSTION'PRODUCTS Filed April 8, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs SPA'CE HEATER CASING FOR RECEIVING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS Dean Olds and, Christie L. Schroeder, Wichita, Kans., assignors to The Coleman Company, Inc., Wichita, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application April 8, 1948, Serial No. 19,746

This invention relates to a heater. The invention is particularly useful as a space heater for homes or other buildings, but will be found useful for other purposes.

An object of the invention is to provide a heater structure in which the combustion products of a burner are utilized for heating, with greater efficiency, a stream of air which is to be circulated in a room, etc.

Yet another object is to provide a heating chamber of unique design approaches the temperature in the top portion of the. casing. Yet another object is to provide a casingistructure in which the. flow'of gases along the'lower portion of. the casing i encouraged 1 with the consequent development of higher temperatures at or near the bottom of the. heating unit than are usually found in heat exchangers.

Yet another object is to :provide a chamber receiving, the products of combustion in which the products are caused to flow along an inclined,

longitudinal wall of the chamber while an air flow is-directed against the exterior surface of such wall. A still further object is to provide a combustion unit of unique cross-sectional structure in which a higher bottom temperature is obtained than is normally obtained with such heaters while at the same, time developing greater circulation of air about the unit. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds. v

The invention is illustrated, in a single embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a broken side view in elevation of apparatus embodying our invention, a portion of the inner structure being shown in section; Fig. 2, aperspective view of the combustion and heating units; Fig. 8, a perspective view showing the other side of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4, a vertical sectional View, the section being taken, as indicated, at line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the illustration given, A designates an outer casing for the heater; B designates a burner unit; and Cdesignates a heater-casing receiving the 5 Claims. (Cl. 126-93) louver-equipped top Illa. Further, if desired the products of combustion from the pot type burner against the surface of the heating unit C. It may, therefore, be varied to meet any of the usual requirements of air heaters, and may be employed for feeding air to the interior and for discharging air from the upper portion of the casing, or for discharging a current of heated air to a blower system, etc. The specific casing A is set out merely as an illustration of one type of casing enclosure for the heating unit C.

In the illustration given, the casing A comprises an outer sheath H! of metal, or other suittable material, providing an enclosure about units B and C. The casing A is open at the top to permit the discharge of air, and may be'providecl. if desired, with the usual grill top or top opening of the casing A may be connected to any desired conduit for distribution of heated air throughout a building.

In the illustration given, the casing A is pro vided on one side with a plurality of louvers II, which preferably are directed upwardly and inwardly so as to direct air toward the inclined side wall of the heating unit C, as will be later described.

The burner I2 may be of any suitable type or construction. In the specific illustration given, the burner I2 is of the pot type, and it is supported upon a flange 13 carried by the casing of the burner unit B. The top of the casing of the unit B merges with the casing of the unit C, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, so that the products of combustion pass directly from the burner unit B into the heater unit C. If desired, the combustion may be extended well up into the unit C, so that the unit C is, in efi'ect, a part of the combustion chamber.

In order to insure that the products of combustion will be effectively distributed throughout the chamber l4 provided by the casing of unit C, We provide within the chamber l4 of unit C partition walls [5, I 6 and IT. The wall I5 is a side wall. The Wall 16 is a bottom wall,. and wall i7 is an end wall. It will be observed that the partition thus forms a compartment and that the compartment is open at the end of the casing of unit C opposite the end just above the burner 12. The compartment formed by the walls mentioned is provided with an outlet pipe [8, which may be connected with a flue. Thus, the products of combustion rising from the burner l2 are required to travel to the opposite end of the casing of unit C in order to enter the outlet compartment leading to the outlet pipe [8.

If desired, the casing of unit C may be provided at one end with an opening normally closed by a removable closure plate E9.

The casing of unit C is preferably of the shape indicated more clearly in Fig. 2. One side wall 20 of the casing is inclined upwardly and inwardly throughout its length, as shown best in Fig. 2, while the other side wall 2i is generally vertical. The casing of unit C provides a relatively wide arcuate bottom portion 22 and a relatively narrow top portion 23. With this structure, it will be observed that the products of combustion are normally directed upwardly against the laterally-inclined side wall 23, so that the side wall 29 receives a very large portion of the heat energy. At the same time, the partition walls I5, I6 and H, which are located on the side of the casing opposite the inclined wall 2!], require that the heated gases flow substantially the length of the unit C in contact with the inclined wall 28 before such products can escape into the outletv compartment.

By the arrangement described, the flue gases are forced to flow along the lower surface of the exchanger and then up to the opposite end and finally along the top of the flue outlet. The partition walls provide a large cross-sectional area at the bottom of the chamber while providing a limited cross-sectional area at the top, thus tending to encourage the flow of gases along the bottom and hence the development of higher temperatures at the bottom of the unit than are normal in this type of exchanger, and thus resulting in a better heating output per square inch of exchanger surface.

Any suitable means for supporting the units B and C within the casing A may be provided. Inthe illustration given, the unit Bv is provided with depending legs 2 on either side thereof, and the unit C is provided, at one end, with a depend-ing leg 25.

As already described, air is introduced through the louvers H on one side of the casing A adjacent the wall 28 so as to cause air to flow inwardly along the wall for effective heat transfer. In addition, we prefer to introduce air through the bottom portion of the casing structure A as, for example, through the ports 28 and 2'1, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, so that the air may contact the arcuate bottom portion of the casing C for efi'ective heat transfer. Air also may be introduced through the opening in the lower back side of the casing A as indicated at 28.

Operation In the operation of the apparatus, the pot burner I8 is supplied with fuel in the usual way and ignited, the products of combustion rising" upwardly into the unit C. The partition walls [5, l6 and Il encourage the flow of the flue gases along the enlarged bottom portion of the chamber, permitting them to rise at the opposite end of the chamber and to pass out through the flue outlet [8. By this means, the hot area of the casing is brought lower so that there is less temperature diiferential between the top of unit C and its bottom. The enlarged bottom area of the casing, which thus receives a greater amount of" heat than usual, is efiective in heating the rising air entering the casing through ports in the lower portion of the casing. Also, the air admitted through the louvers H is directed against the long inclined wall 20 for effective heat transfer therewith. By providing a chamber which is relatively narrow at the top and with an enlarged bottom portion while also pro- 4 viding a partition structure therein requiring the travel of flue gases along the length of the chamber before they are permitted to escape through the upper chamber into the outlet I8, relatively high temperatures are maintained along the inclined wall Ell and in the bottom portion of the unit C. Unusually efficient heat transfer is thus brought about while at the same time greater circulation of heated air is brought about. The structure more nearly approaches the ideal heat exchanger in which the temperature of the casing is substantially uniform throughout. Instead of localizing the heat mainly in the top of the casing, the structure more effectively distributes the heat about the chamber so that the air brought into contact with the wide bottom portions of the casing C, as well as in contact with the inclined wall 26 and other portions of the casing C, are efficiently heated.

While we prefer the somewhat pear-shaped configuration illustrated for the casing unit C, it will be understood that such shape may be modified considerably while still obtaining the advantages of the inclined walls, arcuate top and bottom portions, and the partition walls which retain the flue gases against the enlarged bottom by reducing the area at the top of the casing.

While in the foregoing specification, we have set forth, in considerable detail, a specific illustration to; indicate one mode of operation in which the invention maybe practiced, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. In a heater, an elongated casing providing a chamber for receivin products of combustion and provided with an enlarged bottom wall, means for introducing products of combustion through one end of said bottom wall, said casing providing an elongated side extending generally in a vertical. plane and an opposed side extending upwardly and inwardly at an inclination over the major portion of said bottom wall, said generally vertical wall being provided with an exhaust outlet in its upper portion, and within said chamber a partition wall enclosing said exhaust opening and extending at spaced distances above said bottom Wall and longitudinally of said generally vertical side, said partition wall providing an outlet passage closed at the end of the casing where said products of combustion are introduced and open at the opposite end of said casing.

2. In a heater, an elongated casing providing a chamber substantially pear-shaped in cross section, means for supplying products of combustion through the bottom wall of said chamber near one end thereof, said casing being tilted to provide a generally vertical wall on one side provided with an outlet and an opposed side wall extending upwardly and inwardly at an inclination toward said generally vertical wall, a partition wall within said chamber for enclosing said outlet and providing an exhaust passage open at the end of the casing opposite the end at which prodnets of combustion are introduced, and a second casing enclosing said first mentioned casing, and provided with an outlet port in its top, said second casing being provided with an inlet in its side wall adjacent the inclined wall of said first mentioned casing.

3. In a heater, an elongated casing providing a chamber substantially pear-shaped in cross near one end thereof, said casing being tilted to provide a generally vertical wall on one side provided with an outlet and an opposed side wall extending upwardly and inwardly at an inclination toward said generally vertical wall, a partition wall within said chamber for enclosing said outlet and providing an exhaust passage open at the end of the casin opposite the end at which products of combustion are introduced, a second casing enclosing said first mentioned casing, and having an apertured side wall adjacent said inclined side wall of the first mentioned casing, and bafiies in said apertured side wall inclined upwardly toward said side wall to direct incoming air against said inclined side wall.

4. In a heater, an elongated casing providing a chamber substantially pear-shaped in cross section and providing also a combustion chamber below and communicating with one end portion of first mentioned chamber, said first mentioned chamber beingtilted laterally with respect to said combustion chamber to provide a enerally vertically extending side wall and an opposed side wall extending upwardly and inwardly at an inclination toward said generally vertical side wall, said generally vertical side wall being provided with a flue outlet, and a partition wall within said first mentioned chamber for enclosing said outlet and providing an exhaust passage communicating therewith, said passage being closed at the end adjacent said second mentioned chamber and being open at the opposite end of said first mentioned chamber.

5. In a heater, an elongated casin providing a chamber substantially pear-shaped in cross section, a second casing providing a combustion 6 chamber below and communicating with one end portion of said first mentioned chamber, said first mentioned chamber being tilted laterally with respect to said combustion chamberto provide a generally vertically extending side wall and an opposed side wall extending upwardly and inwardly at an inclination toward said generally vertical side wall, said generally vertical side wall being provided with an outlet therethrough, and a partition wall within said first mentioned chamber for enclosing said outlet and providing an exhaust passage communicating therewith, said passage being closed at the end adjacent said second mentioned chamber and being open at the 'opposite end of said first mentioned chamber, the

bottom of said partition wall being spaced above the bottom of said first mentioned chamber.

DEAN OLDS. CHRISTIE L. SCHROEDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 470,446 Richardson Mar. 8, 1892 1,043,941 Keays Nov. 12, 1912 1,336,675 Butler Apr. 13, 1920 1,981,378 Torrey Nov. 20, 1934 2,043,429 Dobbins June 9, 1936 2,243,916 Mueller June 3, 1941 2,244,173 Richardson June 3, 1941 2,365,881 Kahn Dec. 26, 1944 

